'Kidnappers' leave behind trussed-up lawyer for Imran Khan after shootout with police

ISLAMABAD: Intazar Hussain Panjutha, a missing Supreme Court lawyer and focal person of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan, was recovered after a police encounter with his alleged kidnappers in Hassan Abdal on Saturday night.

The dramatic rescue came about after the suspects, who were bringing the lawyer to Punjab from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in a car, fired at police at a picket after their vehicle was intercepted. When the police returned fire, the kidnappers escaped from the scene, leaving behind their car and the hostage. The police cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to arrest them.

A case for the recovery of Panjutha, who had gone missing from Islamabad on October 8, is being heard in the Islamabad High Court, and the attorney general hoped during Friday’s hearing that he would be recovered within 24 hours. The next hearing is scheduled for November 4.

Speaking about the incident, the spokesperson for the Attock police said the suspicious vehicle was stopped at the picket in the Saddar police station area of Hassan Abdal. He said a gang of kidnappers was taking a person away in the car, and as soon as the car stopped, the suspects opened fire at the police team. At this, the police party tactically protected themselves and fired back. The kidnappers took advantage of the darkness and escaped, leaving the hostage and the vehicle behind.

The police took the hostage safely into their custody. The lawyer was found terrified in the backseat, with his hands tied with rope.

In the initial video statement after his recovery, Panjutha said the kidnappers had been demanding a ransom amount of Rs20 million for his release. He said he had been beaten up during his captivity. After his initial statement, he was moved to a hospital for a medical check-up.